Question & AnswerQ&A (DSWD DEPARTMENT CIRCULAR NO. 06)
The State defends the right of children to assistance including proper care and nutrition, and provides special protection against neglect, abuse, cruelty, exploitation and other conditions harmful to their development.
To provide the total development and protection of children from birth up to six years of age, ensuring they receive proper care, mental stimulation, value formation, and safety while their parents are unable to attend to them.
A neglected child is one whose basic needs are deliberately unattended or inadequately attended, which can be physical neglect (malnourishment, ill-clad, lack of shelter) or emotional neglect (maltreatment, exploitation, exposure to moral danger).
A Day Care Worker must be female, aged 18-45, resident in the barangay, physically healthy, preferably experienced in working with preschool children, must undergo training by DSWD, and must commit to serve for at least two years.
Children must have complete immunization against tuberculosis, diphtheria, pertussis, tetanus, measles, poliomyelitis, and other diseases with available vaccines appropriate for children up to six years old.
Day Care Centers must provide care during part of the day, early childhood development activities (mental stimulation, value formation, supervised play), monitoring of child growth and nutrition, and referral of malnourished or disabled children to appropriate agencies.
The council is tasked to prevent abuse, neglect and exploitation, conduct advocacy and information dissemination, protect and rehabilitate victims, assist families, and provide community surveillance on illegal or harmful practices regarding children.
The Bureau of Child and Youth Welfare of the Department of Social Welfare and Development sets the minimum standards, while accreditation assessment is conducted by the DSWD Regional or Provincial Offices and certification issued by the Bureau.
Accreditation can be suspended or revoked if the center is used for immoral purposes, neglects children, is unsanitary, located in a dangerous place, shows incompetence or unworthiness, or continually violates DSWD policies after technical assistance.
The allowance is not less than P500.00 per month, and the worker must be accredited, hold two sessions daily (four hours per session) in the same center, and conduct early childhood development activities throughout the year.